‘100% Natural’ Burt’s Bees Lip Products Contain Hydrogenated Oils, Class Action Says

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A proposed class action alleges Burt’s Bees, Inc. has intentionally mislabeled a slew of lip products as “100% natural” given the items contain hydrogenated oils or coco-glycerides, which are considered synthetic ingredients. 

The 24-page suit says nearly 50 varieties of Burt’s Bees products are falsely labeled given they contain oils made through hydrogenation, a process by which unsaturated fatty acids in vegetable oil are converted to saturated fatty acids. 

During hydrogenation, unsaturated double bonds in the fatty acids of vegetable oils react with hydrogen atoms in the presence of a metal catalyst, the case states. According to the lawsuit, a natural oil is altered chemically when reacted with a metal catalyst in the presence of hydrogen gas so that it differs from how it occurs naturally. 

“As a result, all of the hydrogenated ingredients in the Products are not natural,” the complaint alleges. 

Consumers have an interest in buying products that are not labeled falsely or misleadingly with regard to their contents, and Burt’s Bees “impaired” the plaintiff and other consumers’ ability to select the type and quality of products they chose to buy, the case contends. 

“As a result of Defendant’s fraudulent labeling, Plaintiff has been misled into purchasing products that did not provide them with the benefit of the bargain they paid money for, namely that the Products would be 100% natural,” the filing states. 

According to the lawsuit, the Burt’s Bees lip products that are falsely labeled as 100-percent natural include: 

• Overnight Intensive Lip Treatment;
• Lip Butter;
• Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Lip Shine;
• Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Liquid Lipstick;
• Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing lipstick; and
• Burt’s Bees Lip Crayon;

Per the case, the items listed above contain hydrogenated castor oil, apricot kernel oil, vegetable oil and coco-glycerides. 

The complaint alleges Burt’s Bees knew that the lip products contained synthetic ingredients yet nevertheless mislabeled the items. 

The lawsuit looks to cover all consumers in the United States who bought any of the Burt’s Bees lip products listed on this page, in any of their varieties, within the last four years. 

The case was initially filed in Los Angeles County Superior court on March 2, 2022 before being removed to California’s Central District Court on April 6.

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